David Schwarz declares candidacy for Kingston's House seat

Steve Bisson/Savannah Morning News - David Schwarz announces his candidacy for Congress in Georgia's 1st District at the docks at Isle of Hope Marina as his wife, Berkley, and children, Baker, 5, and Carter, 3, look on.

David Schwarz, an Isle of Hope native who worked as a staffer for U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston before starting his own economic development consulting and lobbying firm, on Wednesday became the third candidate to declare his intentions for Kingston’s 1st Congressional District seat.

The 37-year-old founder and managing partner of Pier Strategies said he represents the new generation of conservative Republicans necessary to restore trust between Americans and the federal government.

“Trust is gone in Washington,” Schwarz said while standing at the end of a dock at Isle of Hope Marina, the sun glistening off the calm waters behind him.

“Government as a whole is broken. More taxes is not the answer. More local control and less regulation is the answer.”

He joins state Sen. Buddy Carter, R-Pooler, and Alma native Darwin Carter as the only announced candidates vying for the seat now held by Kingston as the 11-term congressman runs for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by the retiring Saxby Chambliss.

This is Schwarz’ first foray into elected politics and he neither apologized for his inexperience nor accepted the common perception that politics is a game that requires everyone to wait their turn.

“I’ve never been on the ballot and I’m not an elected politician,” Schwarz said. “I think this is an opportunity for the next generation of conservative leadership to step into the limelight, as we’re seeing across the country, to add some exciting, innovative ideas to help move this stagnant economy forward.”

Schwarz touted his three-year experience as a Kingston aide in Washington and his private-sector accomplishments in helping develop public-private partnerships — using as an example his role in helping build military housing at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.

Despite being a registered lobbyist at both the U.S. House and Senate since 2007, where he lobbied on behalf of clients such as Armstrong Atlantic State University, Coastal BioFuels, the Disaster Recovery Contractors’ Association, Dulaney Industries and others, Schwarz downplayed the lobbying aspect of his work at Pier Strategies.

“Everyone has the right to go up and petition government,” he said. “Unfortunately, that means in Washington, you have to register to lobby sometimes.”

Given the difference between lobbying for an issue and lobbying for a living, Schwarz was asked if he considered what he did as lobbying for a living.

“No, never,” he said. “My role in the private sector has always been a business innovator who intersects with public policy and knows how to solve problems.”